Among the display of leisure vehicles and campers on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand at Europe’s largest recreational vehicle show that starts in Düsseldorf, Germany this weekend will be an interesting Caddy Topos Sail design concept which takes its nautical theme to the extreme of having a wooden boat deck on its roof.
The Caddy Topos Sail design concept, based on the smallest model in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle van range, uses design cues from classic yachts and has its multi-functional roof covered with wooden decking surrounded by aluminium roof rails.
The wooden sun deck on the roof is accessed via four matching wooden and aluminium steps in the Caddy’s tailgate, and to complete the design theme there are wooden inserts along the side of the vehicle and in the rear bumper.
Other highlights of the Volkswagen stand demonstrate its strong heritage in leisure vehicles with a celebration of 20 years of the California camper.
Volkswagen campers became popular almost as soon as the Transporter van was introduced in the 1950s, and the California model was introduced in 1988 when the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter was in production.
With California conversions of the subsequent fourth generation of Transporter van and today’s latest fifth generation model, more than 80,000 have been sold, which must make it one of the most successful campers ever.
Today’s California was introduced in 2006 and is unique as it is now made by Volkswagen, who must be the only vehicle manufacturer to produce its own camper. It is built to the same high quality standards as the rest of the range, and sold with a full three year warranty.
Rather then surfing around trying to get through the day, we’ve brought you this weeks round-up of the stories and videos, so you can catch up on the stories causing a storm on the net.
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2. Why are there no cheap electric cars?- Car manufacturers have put many billions of dollars and almost a hundred years into the development of the internal combustion engine…
This year’s British International Motor Show claimed to be the best ever, with 23 global debuts and more than 50 first appearance’s it really was worth the visit, holding all the all the glamour, excitement and innovation under one roof.
It’s a shame a number of major manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Fiat, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Skoda, Volkswagen and Volvo preferred to use other steams to promote themselves.
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Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
Visually arresting from every angle, the Alfa 8C Spider looks every inch a supercar, and under the bonnet the same 4.7 litre V8 as in the 8C coupe produces 450bhp, which is channelled through a sophisticated 6-speed F1-style paddle shift gearbox to the rear wheels.
Bentley Flying Spur The Continental Flying Spur is the fastest four-door in the Bentley’s history, and the fastest in the world, with a top speed of 195mph. It marries the excitement, power, refinement and craftsmanship of the Continental GT with enhanced luxury and space to provide a supreme combination of performance, style and comfort.
Cadillac CTS Coupe The CTS Coupe Concept takes Cadillac’s acclaimed Art and Science design language and adds more of both. More expressive, more technical and very personal, the CTS Coupe Concept extends the dramatic design of its sedan predecessor with all-new sculpted bodywork aft of the front.
Chevrolet BEAT Concept Designed to appeal to urban customers, the three-door Beat will significantly inspire Chevrolet’s next generation city car, due to make its debut in 2010.
Ford Focus RS Before it even turns a wheel, the new Focus RS exudes the presence, sporty style and lowered, ‘meaner’ appearance expected of a genuine Ford RS.
Honda CR-Z Hybrid
Futuristic styling. Hybrid power. Advanced interior design. And it’s all wrapped up in a lightweight, fun-to-drive package.
Hyundai Genesis Coupé Genesis Coupe is the most thrilling, most emotional Hyundai yet.
Land Rover LRX Concept Land Rover unveils a vision of its future, a bold evolution of Land Rover design that signals the brand’s shift into new areas of the market, while remaining true to its core values.
Lexus LF-A concept
Lexus forges into exotic sports car territory with the LF-A concept vehicle. Integrating the simple elegance of the new Lexus design initiative with racing–inspired style, sculpted curves and fluid lines make a dynamic statement.
Lightning GT The Lightning GT is a battery electric sports car, from the British Lightning Car Company, that is to go on sale in 2008.
Lotus Evora
Stunning visual impact, exhilarating all-round dynamic performance, innovative chassis technology and high levels of luxury, packaging and convenience, the Evora heralds an exciting new era for Lotus.
Mazda Furai concept car Furai takes Mazda’s unique Nagare (Japanese for “flow”) design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car.
Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster Like the coupe version, the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster once again unites the legend of the successful SLR racing models from the 1950s with the innovative technology of modern Formula 1 vehicles from the Vodafone-McLaren-Mercedes team.
Nissan Skyline Skyline GT-R R35 Without a doubt the most practical supercar. Already widely acknowledged as one of the best handling and most powerful supercars ever, the new Nissan GT-R is designed to be driven fast and skilfully by just about anybody, over a variety of road conditions and in total confidence.
Renault Laguna Concept The Laguna with its V6 dCi diesel engine that delivers up to 265bhp and 406lb ft of torque aims to be both ‘high-performance and refined’, says Renault, and sets ‘a new standard in terms of acoustic comfort.’
Saab 9-4X BioPower SUV crossover concept Designed with a typical Scandinavian approach to outdoor life style.
SEAT Ibiza Outstanding value for money being front and centre in the Spanish firm’s thinking.
Spyker C8 Aileron
The Dutch Spyker squadron. UK debut for Spyker C8 Aileron at British Motor Show.
Suzuki Kizashi concept Suzuki has announced that it will produce three variants of the Kizash expected in 2010.
Toyota HYBRID X CONCEPT
Could this be the next road version Toyota Prius?
Vauxhall Insignia
With its breathtaking design and leading technology, the new Vauxhall Insignia makes its world premiere at the 2008 British International Motor Show, with a clear remit to rejuvenate the traditional mid-size segment.
Ignorance, laziness and an over reliance on technology could be costing British motorists up to £300m* every year.
Failure to spend 60 seconds routinely checking oil levels can leave almost 215,000** drivers facing bills of up to £12,000 as engines seize, according to car care company, Comma.
The research has been released to publicise National Oil Check Day (today, 25th July 2008) and the launch of www.checkyouroil.co.uk
An alarming 3 out of 4 motorists don’t know what the oil light on the dashboard means, with 60 percent of all motorists admitting they don’t check their dipstick regularly***.
Damagingly low levels accounted for an estimated 215,000 engine seizures last year with an average repair bill of £1,413****. Although car manufacturers advise stopping immediately when the oil light comes on, a third would continue their journey.
“When the average cost of replacing an engine is £3,462*****, but can easily reach over £12,000 for bigger cars like a Toyota Landcruiser, too many motorists are walking a tightrope. It only takes 60 seconds,” says Mike Bewsey, spokesman for Comma.
Advances in engine technology mean service intervals have increased to 20,000 miles for some models. Bewsey adds: “This has distanced the motorist from traditional DIY car maintenance like checking oil. They feel in a comfort zone today.”
Comma recommends that drivers check their oil at least once a month and always before long journeys.
Research by Comma found that the 17-24 and over 65s were the worst culprits. In each case, nearly 1 in 4 said they never check the dipstick in between services.
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* 215,000 x average engine damage cost of £1,413 = £303,795,000
** One in three passenger cars will break down every year, a total of 9.5 million according to DVLA stats. Of these, Warranty Direct says 2.26% of breakdowns are due to oil-related failure. 2.26% of 9,500,000 is 214,700, rounded up to 215,000.
*** Data from Comma research carried out at Dover Port, May 2008
**** Data from Warranty Direct’s 50,000 policies
***** Average cost of engine replacement at franchised workshops across 25 models –data from Warranty Direct
An exciting nationwide design competition to find fun new ways to travel has been announced by Fiat Group Automobiles UK, starting today.
The contest, called the Smiles Per Hour Design Competition, is a UK-wide search for budding inventors of tomorrow to create interesting and amusing ways to enjoy a journey. And there’s a £50,000 top prize for the best submission.
Under the rules of the competition the invention has to be a ‘transporter’ of some description – or a gadget or gismo that makes travelling more enjoyable.
It can be based on traditional travel methods – a bike, trike, skates, a pogo stick, dinghy, or even moving stairs – but it must make travelling more fun.
Fiat, famous for its stylish and versatile cars such as the iconic Fiat 500, believes that travel should be a fun experience. And the company has signed top TV presenter Suzi Perry from TV’s The Gadget Show to support the competition and drive home its message.
“What a fantastic challenge!” says Suzi. “We’re famous in this country for our great inventors, and I’m sure today’s budding designers can match them all the way. The Fiat Smiles Per Hour Design Competition is bound to generate some fantastic prototypes that, one way or another, can make getting from A to B more fun.”
“We want entries from inventors of all ages from all over the country,” adds Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “Fiat has always made the travel experience more fun. Our cars are styled for fun and functionality – and they are fitted with Fiat’s innovative Blue&Me hands-free entertainment and communication system to make any journey more enjoyable.
“We can’t wait to see some great prototypes that go on to become marketable products in their own right.”
THE NEXT STEP
Send your working drawings, with a brief development plan and short biography, to www.fiat.co.uk/smiles
In 1948, Jaguar created what would become one of the most famous badges in the world, as the all-new and highly advanced XK engine made its debut in the revered XK120 sports car. To mark this milestone the Jaguar XK Club in conjunction with the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club have arranged a series of fantastic events that will culminate in the XK60 Diamond Celebrations taking place over the weekend of 8-10 August 2008. The scale of the event means activities, which include an auction, competitions, trophies, historic exhibitions, star guests, track action and demonstrations, will encompass two spectacular locations: Goodwood - the spiritual home of historic motor sport and nearby Cowdray Park.
Motor racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss, and Formula 1 commentator, Murray Walker, will both attend the celebrations. The event is expected to attract perhaps the finest array of Jaguar sports racing cars, such as C-types and D-types, XK120s, 140s and 150s ever gathered and seen in action - over 600 to celebrate 60 years of the car’s heritage. The feature-packed XK60 event will include a major sale of Jaguars and related automobilia by leading auction house, Bonhams.
The 60th anniversary of the XK is a milestone well worth celebrating, and the XK60 Diamond celebrations will be a phenomenal series of events that Jaguar is proud to support.
Ford has unveiled its answer to an ageing Fiesta, the limited edition Fiesta ST 500.
The ST 500 uses the same 148bhp 2.0-litre engine as the standard ST; however, cosmetic changes have been applied.
Choosing a colour for the Fiesta ST 500 shouldn’t prove too difficult, as it’s only available in metallic Panther black with white leather interior, 17″ black alloy wheels, red painted brake callipers and a silver ‘U’-shaped stripe on the bonnet to echo the livery of classic Escort RS2000 models of the 1970s.
I was promised the Focus ST some time back and all I can say is boy’o'boy was it worth the wait. Given the new 2008 face lift model, all the anticipation and expectations I’d built up, came to life. The ST is a hatch taken to a new level beyond HOT.
It must have been Jeremy Clarkson who first marked the lurid orange Focus ST the ‘ASBO’, the electric paint and bold styling are the perfect ingredients to create a unmissable car, which to be fair is what most people want. Personally, even though I’m rather fond of the electric orange, given today’s knife culture, I’d prefer to keep the showing off to a low, so the Performance Blue or Panther Black would be the ideal choices for me, creating both a discreet looking car with bold styling.
The nip tuck of the new 2008 model characterises a colour coded bumper featuring a reworked mesh grill, fog lights and new rounded front headlamps. An extra lip is noticeable on the bonnet and the arches bulge utilising the curves of the headlights. On the rear, clear lights have been employed, and the surrounding around the exhaust shows signs of diffuser.
The Focus ST certainly looks to impress.
The interiors not exactly overwhelming, for the price it’s roomy and sharp. The new set of instruments, revised stereo, ventilation controls and a new grained soft-touch synthetic material on the entire instrument panel, all add to a welcoming everyday interior.
At present, three versions of the Focus ST are available. The standard ST1 features chrome-tipped twin exhaust pipes, an auxiliary instrument panel, high-performance disc-brakes front and rear, racing pedals, Ford keyless ignition system and Easyfuel filler cap. The ST 2 adds Bi-Xenon headlights with washers and ESP with TA and EBA. The premium ST 3 completes the Focus with a Sony Audio 6-CD player and full leather trim.
An increasing number of car manufacturers today are beginning to implement a push to start button with keyless ignition, however what I was left dazzled about was when I saw no fuel cap. Fords impressive Easyfuel filler cap prevents the wrong fuel being filled into the cars tank.
Under the bonnet lies Volvo’s trusty 222bhp 2.5-litre engine tuned by Ford’s TeamRS, capable of enough power to see the Focus ST from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds, quicker than the Golf GTI (7.2), but it falls short of the Astra VXR, Megane 225 and Civic Type R by fractions of a second, which in real-world driving would be hard to notice
.
The 6 speed gearbox tries to impose economy, the official figures of 20.5 mpg, 41.5 mpg and 30.4 mpg for the urban, extra-urban and combined may drive you out of pocket, still you just can’t help yourself, put your foot down and listen to the refined engine growl with a hint of turbo whistle.
With the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Traction Assist, driving the ST through the country and town, I felt extremely confident; I couldn’t feel any under or over steer and the ST takes most humps and bumps without a spasm.
Like most hot hatches the ST has only four seats, the sculpted cushion between the rear seats provide extra support and better shoulder-room. Getting in and out of the rear of the 3-door version can be a little awkward as the front Recaro seats have such stocky side support that the seats don’t fold forward very far.
Read the ST and it’ll tell you, don’t buy me unless you want aggressive style, plenty of speed and spirited performance, everyday. The Focus ST is sure to put a smile on your face, every time.
Thankfully it’s not like father, like son as Lewis Hamilton’s dad ends up pranging a £330,000 Porsche Carrera GT.
Anthony Hamilton (father of Lewis Hamilton) left home with wife Linda and lost control of the 205mph supercar. The Carrera GT SPUN 180 degrees and careered rearwards through a wooden fence and a hawthorn hedge before coming to an halt in a children’s playground, thankfully an empty playground.
Neither Anthony nor Linda was hurt in the impact of the crash at Burnham Green, Herts. Mr Hamilton wouldn’t say who owned the car, but apologised profusely.
Anthony Later, added: “This is my first crash in almost 30 years and it had to happen in someone else’s car. Thankfully the only thing hurt was the car and a bush fence, for which I am extremely sorry.”
A collector’s item, The Carrera GT is 1 of 1,270 made and thought to be 1 of 50 in the UK.
Even the best take a spill once in a while; police will talk to Anthony as part of “routine inquiries”.
CarMagazine “broke” the news announcing the BMW M1 Hommage Concept will be making its way into the production, but BMW Blog disagrees, ”As much as we would love to see the BMW M1 Hommage making it into production, that will not happen.”
CarMagazine in thier July issue will reveal key project details including:
The timetable for production
The three-strong powertrain line-up
The lightweight body construction
The plan for ‘heron-wing’ doors, and a driver-focused, multi-layered interior
Has BMW Blogs saved us from this Hommage. Only time will tell.
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Posted by Frank Posted underBMW, M1, Post Tags: BMW
Among the display of leisure vehicles and campers on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand at Europe’s largest recreational vehicle show that starts in Düsseldorf, Germany this weekend will be an interesting Caddy Topos Sail design concept which takes its nautical theme to the extreme of having a wooden boat deck on its roof.
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Ignorance, laziness and an over reliance on technology could be costing British motorists up to £300m* every year.
Damagingly low levels accounted for an estimated 215,000 engine seizures last year with an average repair bill of £1,413****. Although car manufacturers advise stopping immediately when the oil light comes on, a third would continue their journey.
